Device for restraining prisoners and the like



Feb. 11, 1969 u. E. SCHUBACH ETAl- 9 DEVICE FOR RESTRAINING PRISONERS'AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 30, 1966 04055 A. .ScHusncH OTHo C. 'WoozDsPare CK C. GRu'rscH Jbcz L. EBERHAQQT INVENTORS AM-7'02 Ev United StatesPatent Miraleste,

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A prisoner restraining device including anelongated flexible cord for connecting the wrists or ankles of aprisoner, froming two loops at its opposite ends to receive the anklesor wrists, with the cord having a small terminal loop at one of itsextremities received about an intermediate portion of the cord to form afirst of the loops, and with the cord carrying a snap hook at itsopposite end detachably connectable to an intermediate portion of thecord to form the second loop, and further with the flexible member andits terminal eye and snap hook having a combined overall length ofbetween about 27 inches and 33 inches.

This invention relates to an improved device for use by police and otherlaw enforcement oflicers in restraining or restricting the movements ofa prisoner.

In attempting to control a person who resists arrest, a law enforcementoflicer frequently encounters great difficulty in restricting themovements of the prisoner, and particularly in applying conventionalhandcuffs to the arms or legs of the prisoner. In order to apply suchhandcuffs to the prisoner, it is necessary to force his arms or legstogether while the handcuffs are snapped onto them, and while he may beresisting strenuously and perhaps striking and/ or kicking the arrestingofficer. Consequently, the arrest of one person may require two or moreofficers, and may even then be very difficult. Further, the applicationof metal handcuffs to the ankles of a prisoner may cut or otherwiseinjure the prisoner or the officer; and the efforts of the oflicer toavoid such injury may have the effect of allowing the prisoner toescape.

A major object of the present invention is to provide a device which canbe applied relatively easily to the arms or legs of a prisoner, andwhich will function to secure the two arms or two legs together veryeffectively, but without danger of cutting or otherwise injuring theprisoner. After the prisoner has been subdued and placed under controlin this manner, conventional handcuffs should be applied to the wriststo secure them together more permanently, though normally the presentrestraining device itself will function as a permanent ankle restraint.

A device embodying the invention includes an elongated flexible memberadapted to extend between and connect together the wrists or ankles of aprisoner, and forming two loops at its opposite ends adapted to extendabout and hold the two wrists or ankles respectively. To form these twoloops, the elongated flexible member carries or forms at its extremitiestwo small terminal connector eyes, each of which extends about anintermediate portion of the flexible member, and is slidable therealong,to retain that end of the member in the desired loop configuration, andto enable adjustment of the size of the loop, and tightening of the loopabout a wrist or "ice ankle, upon such sliding movement. At least one ofthese eyes (preferably only one), takes the form of a releasablefastener, desirably a snap hook, which is detachable from its positionof sliding reception about the intermediate portion of the flexiblemember, to facilitate application of the device to a prisoner. The othereye is for best results of a nonreleasable or non-opening type,desirably being formed as a small terminall loop portion of the flexiblemember itself.

The flexible member and the fastener and other eye forming means at itsextremities have an overall combined length which is sufficiently shortto restrain the two interconnected ankles or wrists against unwantedrelative motion, and yet which is sufficiently great to facilitateapplication of the device to a prisoners wrists or ankles more easilythan a conventional pair of handcuffs. For this purpose, the mentionedoverall length of the elongated member and the elements carried at itsextremities should be between about 20 inches and 36 inches, morepreferably between about 2.7 inches and 33 inches, and for best resultsapproximately 30 inches. Also, the flexible member is desirably formedas a cord which is essentially non-stretchable and is relativelyincapable of cutting or otherwise injuring the prisoner. For bestresults, the cord is formed of a flexible resinous plastic material,desirably a woven material, and optimally woven nylon or polyethylene.

An additional feature of the invention relates to the manner in which adevice of the above discussed general type may be employed inconjunction with a coacting structure for holding the connected feet ofa prisoner near the floor of a motor vehicle in transit, to prevent theprisoner from kicking and otherwise moving around in an uncontrolledmanner. For this purpose, I provide an element which is connected to thefloor of the vehicle, or to a structure near the floor, such as the seatsprings or other underseat structure, and which is detachablyconnectable to an intermediate portion of a cuff structure which extendsbetween and connects together the ankles of a prisoner. Thus, theresulting overall combination holds the prisoners legs together and downin a completely controlled manner.

The above and other features and objects of the invention will be betterunderstood from the following detailed description of the typicalembodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view showing a prisoner restraining device constructed inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the slipconnection formed at one extremity of the flexible cord of FIG. 1; 1

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary penspective view of the snap hook carried at theother extremity of the cord;

FIG. 4 shows the manner of use of the device as an arm restraint on aprisoner;

(FIG. 5 shows the device as used for restraining movement of the legs ofa prisoner; and

FIG. 6 shows another arrangement for restraining movement of the legs ofa prisoner.

With reference first to FIG. 1, I have illustrated at '10 a prisonerrestraining device formed in accordance with the invention and includingan elongated flexible cord 11 shaped to form two adjustable size sliploops 12 and 13 at its opposite ends. Cord L1 is desirably formed of asubstantially nonstretchable freely flexible and nonmetallic material,such as an appropriate resinous plastic substance, which for bestresults is of the woven type illustrated in FIG. 2. More particularly,this cord 11 may be formed of a large number of individual elongatedstrands 14 forming a woven pattern, and with this woven material beingessentially tubular, as seen at the right end 3 of FIG. 2. The bestmaterial for forming cord 11 is woven nylon or polyethylene.

At one of its extremities, cord 11 is doubled back to form a smallterminal eye or loop 15, which slidably receives an intermediateporition 16 of cord 11, in a manner forming the previously mentionedlarger loop 12 for receiving one of the wrists or ankles of a prisoner.Desirably, the eye 15 is of an internal size only slightly greater thanthe external size of the received portion 16 of cord 11, but is freelyslidable therealong to vary the size of larger loop 12. Eye 15 may beformed by connecting the end of cord 11 to itself in a manner forming athickened portion 17 of the cord adjacent the eye or small loop 15.

At its other end, cord 11 carries a snap hook 18, having a main rigidhook portion 19 and a relatively movable closure element 20 which isspring urged to the full line position of FIG. 3, and is adapted to bepressed inwardly to the broken line position of that figure to enablemovement of a portion 21 of the cord 11 into and out of the hook. In thefull line closed position of FIG. 3, the hook serves as a second eyeforming a passageway 22 which is slightly larger than the external sizeof the received portion 21 of the cord, to enable sliding movement ofthe hook along the cord. The hook or fastener 18 has an attaching ring23, to which the second extremity of cord 11 is permanently attached byforming at that extremity an eye 118 similar to the previously discussedeye 15. Preferably, the small terminal loop or eye 15 formed at thefirst mentioned extremity of cord 11 is of a size too small to enablepassage of snap hook 18 through this eye, so that eye 15 cannot beslipped completely off of cord 11, with the result that the arm or legreceiving loop 12 at the right end of FIG. 1 is permanently retained inits loop configuration, and cannot be opened.

In using the restraining device of FIG. 1, assume first of all that itis desired to temporarily cuff together the arms of a prisoner, tofacilitate the subsequent application to the prisoner of conventionalhandcuffs. In applying the device of FIG. 1, the hook 18 will initiallybe unattached to intermediate portion 21 of cord '11, so that loop 13 isopen, and the hook carrying end of the cord may for example be in thebroken line condition of FIG. 1. The loop 12 formed at the opposite endof the cord is opened to a sufliciently large condition to enable it tobe slipped easily onto one of the wrists of the prisoner, even though hemay be violently resisting arrest. After that loop 12 has been placedabout one of the wrists, the arresting oflicer may tighten loop 12 aboutthat first wrist by merely pulling on the end of cord 11 which carrieshook 18. Next, the officer wraps the second end of the cord, carryingthe book, about the second wrist of the prisoner, and snaps hook 18 ontoportion 21 of the cord. After the hook has been applied in this manner,the officer rnay pull on the cord at a point between the two loops 12and 13, to simultaneously tighten both of the loops, and to thereaftereasily control movements of the prisoner through this central portion ofthe cord. The prisoner is thus subdued, and can easily be controlled bythe device 10 for application of conventional cuifs, either with thearms in front of the prisoner or behind him, and even though theprisoner may be very strong and muscular and capable of effectivelyresisting control in any other more conventional manner.

(The device 10 may also be utilized in similar manner to connecttogether and restrain the movements of the legs of a prisoner, asindicated in FIG. 5, in which the two ends of the cord are receivedabout the ankles of the prisoner.

In order to satisfactorily serve the discussed function of restrainingthe movements of a prisoners arms or legs, it is desirable that the cord11, including its terminal eye portion and carried hook 18, have anoverall length L between about inches and 36 inches, preferably between27 inches and 33 inches, and optimally 30 inches. This length dimensionis the length which the device 10 would have if opened outlongitudinally, with extremity or loop 15 and hook 18 detached from theportions of the cord which extend therethrough. As will be apparent, ifthe device is of too great a length, it will not etfectively restrainthe relative movements of the two connected arms or legs of a prisoner;while if it is too short, it cannot be satisfactorily applied to aprisoner who is resisting arrest.

In conjunction with the device 10, I preferably utilize in the squad caror other motor vehicle employed by the arresting officer, a hold downdevice 24, which is detachably connectable to device 10 to hold the legsof the prisoner near the floor of the vehicle. In FIG. 5, I haveillustrated at 25 the floor of a squad car, which may contain an opening26 through which a flexible elongated preferably metal cable 27 or thelike extends downwardly. This cable is suitably connected at theunderside of the floor 25 to that floor or to another stationarystructure, and carries at its upper end a snap hook 28 similar to thepreviously discussed hook 18, and adapted to receive and be detachablyconnected to the central portion of cord 11 of device 10, to hold thatcord and the connected legs of a prisoner near the floor of the vehicle.Thus, the prisoner is prevented from raising his legs, kicking, andotherwise causing difficulty in the vehicle.

FIG. 6 shows a second hold down device 24a, consisting of a flexiblemetal cable 27a (or if preferred a Woven plastic cord) having a hook 28aand having an eye or loop 29 at its lower end which can be slippedthrough any appropriate structure or bracket 30 on or near the floor 31of the vehicle (for example bracket 30 may be a seatbelt bracket), withhook 28a then being passed through eye 29 to fasten hold down unit 24ato the bracket or structure 30. Similarly cable 27a may be attached to aseat spring or other underseat structure. Hook 28a may then be utilizedto detachably connect the cable to the device 10 or the like, as in FIG.5. It is also contemplated that a second snap hook may be provided oncable 2701, at its lower end, to further facilitate direct attachment ofthat lower end to an anchoring structure. In either of the FIG. 5 orFIG. 6 arrangements, it is desirable that cable 27 or 27a and its book28 or 28a (or hooks if two are provided) be of limited effective length,to appropriately restrain the movements of the legs of the prisoner, andfor best results be not over about 25 inches in length, desirably beingno .greater than about 12 inches.

We claim:

1. A prisoner restraining device comprising an elongated flexible memberadapted to extend between and connect together the wrists or ankles of aprisoner, said member having at One end thereof a first end portionforming a loop of a size to extend about and hold one of said wrists orankles, there being a small terminal eye at the extremity of said firstend portion extending about an intermediate portion of the flexiblemember and slidable therealong to adjust the size of said loop andtighten it on the prisoner, said member having at its opposite end asecond end portion adapted to form a second loop about and confine asecond wrist or ankle of the prisoner, and a snap hook carried at theextremity of said second end portion of said flexible member and adaptedto be detachably snapped about an intermediate portion of the member,and to be slidable therealong to tighten said second loop about saidsecond ankle or wrist, said flexible member and said terminal eye andsaid snap hook carried at opposite ends thereof having a combinedoverall length of between about 27 inches and 33 inches, whereby saidopposite end loops are maintained close enough to effectively restrainexcessive relative movements of the prisoners arms or legs, and yet arefar enough apart to enable easy application of the device to astruggling prisoner.

2. A prisoner restraining device as recited in claim 1, in which saidflexible member is formed of an essentially non-stretchable non-metalliccord.

3. A prisoner restraining device as recited in claim 1, in which saidflexible member is formed of essentially non-stretchable woven resinousplastic cord.

4. A prisoner restraining device as recited in claim 1, in which saidflexible member is formed of flexible essentially non-stretchable cord,said terminal eye at the extremity of said first end portion of theflexible member being non-openable and formed by and integral with thematerial of said cord, said snap hook having a spring pressed closuremember for closing the hook to retain it slidably on the cord.

5. A prisoner restraining device as recited in claim 4, in which saidcord is formed of Woven nylon or polyethylene.

6. A prisoner restraining device as recited in claim 1, including aflexible elongated hold-down unit connected to a floor or near a floorand carrying a connector detachably connectable to said first mentionedflexible member at a location between said loops to hold it and the legsof a prisoner near the floor.

7. A prisoner restraining device as recited in claim 1, in which saidflexible member is formed of flexible essentially non-stretchable cord,said terminal eye at the extremity of said first end portion of theflexible member being non-openable and formed by and integral with thematerial of said cord, said snap hook having a spring pressed closuremember for closing the hook to retain it slidably on the cord, therebeing a. flexible elongated hold-down unit connected to a floor or neara floor and carrying a snap hook detachably connectable to said cord ata location between said loops to hold it and the legs of a prisoner nearthe floor.

8. A prisoner restraining device as recited in claim 1, in which saidterminal loop is only slightly larger in size than the portion of saidflexible member received therein.

9. A prisoner restraining device as recited in claim 1, in which saidterminal loop is too small to enable easy passage of said snap hooktherethrough.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,823,697 9/1931 Nenstiehl -151,924,596 8/1933 Davis 119109 2,949,761 8/1960 Mitchell 7016 3,046,0457/1962 Campbell 294--74 FOREIGN PATENTS 455,249 3/1949 Canada.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

5 E. J. MCCARTHY, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

